McAndrew Awarded $1.8 million VA Grant to Explore Problem-Solving Therapy for Veterans with Gulf War Illness

McAndrew Awarded $1.8 million VA Grant to Explore Problem-Solving Therapy for Veterans with Gulf War Illness

Albany, NY (October 4, 2013) - Lisa McAndrew (PI), Counseling Psychology, has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a multi-site randomized controlled trial of Problem-Solving Therapy for Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Gulf War Illness impacts 25-30% of Gulf War Veterans and is a complex multi-symptom illness which causes as much disability as other major medical diseases, such as cancer. This innovative trial will target a specific component of Gulf War Illness, namely problem-solving ability, known to be associated with worsening disability. Problem-solving is thought to be the most complex of cognitive abilities and is the ability that enables us to conduct complicated behaviors such as setting goals, sequencing and multi-tasking.

Dr. McAndrew will seek to improve the problem-solving deficits and disability of Gulf War Illness using a state of the art evidence based approach to cognitive rehabilitation, Problem-Solving Therapy. Problem-Solving Therapy teaches patients strategies to address real-life problems. This multi-site trial will compare telephone delivered Problem-Solving Therapy to telephone delivered Health Education.